Unit III NETWORK VIRTUALIZATION

What is Network Virtualization?

• Network virtualization is a revolutionary technology that abstracts and disjoints traditional networking
functions from the underlying hardware, thus enabling the creation of multiple virtual networks on a shared
physical infrastructure.

• This can be done by the efficient use of resources, more flexibility in the network, and simplified network
management. Through the virtualization of network functions and services, organizations can create virtualized
environments that are tailored to their requirements without physical restrictions.

This technology is a bedrock of modern computing since it offers rapid deployment, scalability, and cost-
effectiveness.

Irrespective of the application, it is either in data centers, cloud computing or software-defined networking,
network virtualization enables enterprises to optimize connectivity, streamline operations, and adaptably
respond to changing demands.
Why Network Virtualization?
Network virtualization aims to cope with the growing complexity and the increasing requirements of
modern computing by offering a flexible and efficient solution to traditional networking challenges.

The primary reasons for adopting network virtualization include.

Resource Optimization:
Virtualization is a technology that separates network functions from physical hardware, thus allowing
virtual networks to be created and run on a common infrastructure. This way, the resources are used more
efficiently.

Flexibility and Agility:

Virtual networks provide unprecedented flexibility which organizations can use to quickly respond to
changing requirements by dynamically allocating and adjusting resources according to the current needs.

Cost Efficiency:
Through the separation of networking functions from hardware, organizations can achieve higher resource
utilization, which results in cost savings by reducing hardware expenditure and better operating efficiency.
Isolation and Security:
Virtualization of the network creates the isolation of virtual networks, which makes security better by
preventing communication between different environments or user groups.

Scalability:
Virtualized networks can be dynamically scaled up or down based on demand, leading to smooth growth
without ongoing hardware investments or disruptions.

Centralized Management:
Network virtualization makes network management and control centralized which simplifies network
administration, monitoring, and troubleshooting irrespective of the environment.

Compatibility and Integration:

It is the glue that holds together diverse networking technologies, platforms, and protocols, forging
interoperability and compatibility in heterogeneous network environments.
Functions of Network Virtualization

Network virtualization is done through the abstraction of networking resources from the underlying physical
infrastructure and the creation of a virtual layer that runs autonomously.

Here are key points on how network virtualization functions:

Abstraction:
Network virtualization decouples the physical devices, such as switches, routers, and firewalls, into software-
defined entities, referred to as virtual network devices.

Hypervisor or Controller:
• The hypervisor or a network controller is central to this.
• It handles the network virtualization and manages the virtualized network, including the creation,
configuration, and monitoring of virtual network components.

Virtual Switching:
• Virtual switches are used to control the network traffic within the virtualized network.
• They are software-controlled and provide communication between virtual machines and other virtualized
resources.
Isolation:
• Virtual networks uses isolation mechanisms to create a network, each virtual network operating
separately. Thus, it ensures privacy and improves security.

Overlay Networks:
• Overlay networks are frequently employed with a view to building logical connections on top of the
physical infrastructure.
• This is achieved by encapsulating and tunneling the data from virtual devices, thus, a virtual network is
created on top of the physical one.
Types of Network Virtualization
Network virtualization assumes different forms, each targeting a specific application or occasion.
Here are the main types of network virtualization:
Software-Defined Networking (SDN):
SDN is the form of network virtualization which is a separation of the control and data plane (control plane
makes decisions as to where to send traffic, and data plane sends the traffic).
This division creates a viable opportunity for more centralized and programmable network administration.
Virtual LANs (VLANs):
VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) represent a way to provide virtualization of a network, which separates
a physical network to different logical ones.
This segmentation process facilitates blocking and translation and boosts network performance through
division of the devices into different broadcast domains.
Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF):
VRF creates an environment wherein multiple instances of a routing table can be created within a single
router, which allows the router to host multiple virtual routers as required.
This is, for example, used for network isolation in service provider environments.

Network Function Virtualization (NFV):

NFV is about virtualizing network services that we have always used in hardware dedicated to them, such as
firewalls, load balancers, and intrusion detection units.
NFV, instead of relying on hardware to operate the functions, utilizes software executed on virtualized
infrastructure to achieve flexibility and hardware independence.

Overlay Networks:
The virtual networks which are overlayed on the physical infrastructure, are the logical networks that are
created, which provide the functionality to develop independent virtual networks that are not inter-
dependent with hardware.
The technologies such as VXLAN Virtual Extensible LAN or GRE Generic Routing Encapsulation are widely
used as a overlay virtualization.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs):
VPNs are a way to secure users or networks connecting through the internet.
Encryption and tunneling protocols give an ability to make virtual the network, thus creating networks of
private and secure communication channels.

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS):

MPLS is a protocol applied in telecommunications networks to make the data directed from one network node
to the next on the basis the labels which are not IP addresses.
This promotes the productivity of data transmission and provides the possibility of logical switching paths
within the network.
Benefits of Network Virtualization
Network virtualization is the driving force that has changed the whole way networks are designed, deployed,
and managed. Here are key advantages:
Resource Optimization:
Virtualization facilitates resource utilization with network resources virtualization from physical hardware.
This will result in better utilization of the installed capacity and higher network efficiency.

Flexibility and Agility:

Virtualized networks are very flexible in nature, thus they can easily adjust to changing demands.
Network configurations and resources can be redistributed to meet the new requirements at any time, which
makes the system more adaptive.
Cost Efficiency:
Through the separation of network functions from hardware, organizations can have capital expenditures
saved.
Virtualization suits the purpose of reducing the demand for considerable physical infrastructure which leads
to lower hardware costs and more cost efficiency.

Isolation and Security:

Network virtualization strengthens security because it gives virtual networks the isolation they need.
It thus avoids unauthorized access and interference, thus reducing the effect of attacks on one part of the
network on others.

Scalability:
The virtualized network makes it possible to scale easily.
Organizations can scale up and down according to the demand without a significant change in the capital
infrastructure, thus, promoting cost effective growth.

Centralized Management:
Centralized management consoles or controllers are quite helpful in the management of virtualized
networks.
It simplifies configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting, thereby minimizing the complexity involved in
conventional network management.
 Tools for Network Virtualization
Network virtualization tools help create, manage, and simulate virtual network environments, improving
flexibility, scalability, and security.
Here are some key tools used for network virtualization:
1. Hypervisor-Based Virtualization
VMware NSX – Provides network and security virtualization for data centers, enabling micro-segmentation
and automation.
Microsoft Hyper-V Network Virtualization (HNV) – Integrates with Microsoft Hyper-V for virtual network
isolation.
Citrix Hypervisor – Virtualizes network infrastructure within Xen-based environments.

2. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Tools

Open vSwitch (OVS) – An open-source SDN switch enabling programmable and flexible network
configurations.
OpenDaylight – An open-source SDN controller that helps manage network virtualization.
ONOS (Open Network Operating System) – A carrier-grade SDN controller designed for high performance
and scalability.
3. Container Networking
Docker Networking – Uses overlays (like Flannel, Calico, or Cilium) to provide network isolation for
containers.
Kubernetes Networking (CNI) – Manages containerized applications with network plugins like Flannel,
Calico, and Weave.
Istio – A service mesh for managing microservices networking in Kubernetes.

4. Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Tools

OpenStack Neutron – A networking service within OpenStack that manages virtualized network resources.
Cisco Virtualized Network Functions (VNF) – A suite of virtual network functions like routers, firewalls, and
load balancers.
Juniper Contrail Networking – Provides network automation and SDN capabilities.

5. Network Simulation and Testing

GNS3 (Graphical Network Simulator 3) – Allows network engineers to simulate virtual networks with real-
world scenarios.
EVE-NG (Emulated Virtual Environment Next Generation) – A powerful tool for virtualizing complex
network environments.
Mininet – An emulator for testing SDN applications and network configurations.